Pneumatic remote speed control device for marine engine

ABSTRACT

A cam mechanism geared to the operating handle of a remotely located operator&#39;&#39;s speed controller for a marine engine, said cam mechanism including cam means operable by movement of the operator&#39;&#39;s handle to various positions for transmitting a corresponding degree of movement through a lever arrangement to the operating stem of a fluid pressure operable control valve device which remotely controls the speed of the engine.

United States Patent 1 1 Takagi et al.

[ Nov. 20, 1973 PNEUMATIC REMOTE SPEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR MARINE ENGINE [75] Inventors: Makoto Takagi, Akifumi Nitta, both of Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Japan [73] Assignee: The Nippon Air Brake Co. Ltd., Kobe,.lapan [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,452

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 19, 1970 Japan 45/072489 [52] US. Cl. 74/491, 74/568 R [51] Int. Cl G05g 7/12 [58] Field of Search 74/491, 568 R, 568 M [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 398,623 2/1889 Keeton 74/568 R 4/1918 Cozel et a1 74/491 11/1919 Gruenfeldt 74/491 Primary ExaminerMilton Kaufman AttorneyRa1ph W. Mclntire, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A cam mechanism geared to the operating handle of a remotely located operator's speed controller for a marine engine, said cam mechanism including cam means operable by movement of the operator's handle to various positions for transmitting a corresponding degree of movement through a lever arrangement to the operating stem of a fluid pressure operable control valve device which remotely controls the speed of the engine.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnunvzo ma 3.772.937

INVENTOR5 MAKOTO TAKAGI AKIFUMI NITTA ATTORNEY PNEUMATIC REMOTE SPEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR MARINE ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many of the remote speed control apparatus for ma SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention, therefore, is to.

provide a remote speed control device for marine engines characterized by a simplified structure which may be readily repaired and maintained and thereby provide dependable trouble-free operation.

The invention is intended to be arranged in the speed controller stand of a marine vessel and comprises a cam device including a rotatable cylindrical support member geared to the angularly displaceable operators handle of the controller so as to be positionally rotated according to the position to which the handle is operated and biasing means for axially biasing said support member in one direction, said cylindrical support member having a plurality of cam elements arranged sideby-side on the outer cylindrical surface thereof and extending axially therefrom to form a step-like cam contour so that one of said cam elements, corresponding to the rotated position of the support member, is biased into contact with a conveniently disposed earn follower associated with a lever system which imparts a prescribed amount of motion (according to the particular cam element in contact with the follower and the force exerted by the biasing means) to an operating element of a control device, such as an operating stem of a fluid pressure operable control valve, for example, for effecting the desired rate of speed. The cam device also includes an auxiliary or tuning cam whereby the compression of the biasing means may be adjusted to pro- DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION An operator's remote speed control stand or station generally designated by the reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is normally situated on the vessel at a convenient location from which the speed of the vessel can be remotely controlled. The control stand 1 includes an angularly displaceable operator's handle 2 which is operable in a clockwise direction, as designated by the arrow in the drawing, from a neutral position N, in which it is shown, to an initial position SF for first starting the engine and then into a plurality of positions within a range, designated F in the drawing, for determining the forward speed of the vessel. From the position N, the handle 2 is operable in a counterclockwise direction, as

designated by the arrow in the drawing, to an initial position SR for first starting the engine and then into a plurality of positions within a range, designated R in the drawing, for determining the reverse speed of the vessel.

A cam device, generally designated by the reference numeral 3 in FIG. 2, is mounted within the control stand 1 and comprises a shaft 4 rotatably joumaled therein in suitable manner (not shown). A sprocket gear 5 is removably secured at one end of shaft 4 with an endless sprocket-type drive chain 6 (shown in broken line in FIG. 1) engaging said sprocket as well as a sprocket gear 7 coaxially secured to the operators handle 2 for rotation therewith, so that rotation or operation of said operators handle and sprocket gear 7 produces rotation of sprocket gear 5 and shaft 4 through said drive chain.

The cam device 3 further comprises a cylindrical support member 8 concentrically mounted by a plurality of spokes on a hub member 9 slidably carried on the shaft 4. The hub member 9, though fitting snugly on the shaft 4, is loose enough to permit axial movement of the hub and therefore of support member 8 on the shaft. The amount of axial movement of hub 9 and support member 8 is limited in one direction by a collar 10 fixed on the shaft 4 adjacent one end of the hub member and by a spring 11 compressed between the other end of the hub member and a collar 12 fixed on said shaft in axially spaced-apart relation to said other end of the hub member. The hub member 9 and support member 8 are keyed against rotation on shaft 4 by a key member 13, while spring 11 urges said hub member and support member in the direction toward collar 10.

The cylindrical support member 8 carries a plurality of block-like cam elements 14, 14', 14' etc., adjustably secured in side-by-side fashion on the outer cylindrical surface of said support member by a plurality of respective bolts l5, l5, 15', etc. screwing radially into the support member by passing through respective slots 16, 16, 16'', etc. formed longitudinally in the cam elements. Each of the cam elements l4, l4, 14'', etc., is of such axial length as to have one end thereof, when secured in adjusted position, project beyond an annular edge forming the rearward axial limit or end, as viewed in the drawing, of support member 8. The cam elements 14, 14, 14", etc., are additionally secured in their respective adjusted positions by a plurality of respective bolts 18, 18', 18", etc., screw-threadedly disposed, in coaxially aligned relation to the respective cam elements, in an annular shoulder 19 formed on and surrounding the cylindrical support member 8 adjacent the ends of the cam elements opposite the projecting ends thereof. With the cam elements l4, 14', 14'', etc., in their respective adjusted positions, bolts l5, 15, 15'', etc., are tightened down thereon, and bolts 18, 18, 18", etc. are snubbed up against the respective adjacent ends of the cam elements and then secured in Although only one set of cam elements 14, 14, 14, etc., with respective to securing bolts 15, 15', 15", etc. and 18, 18', 18", etc., is shown, it should be understood that another set of such cam elements and securing bolts must be provided on the support member 8 and arranged so as to form a cam contour for controlling reverse speeds of the vessel s engine, said cam contour running oppositely to that of the one formed by the cam elements shown for the forward speeds.

A roller 22 rotatably carried at one end of a lever 23 makes rolling contact with an annular end surface 24 forming the extremity of support member 8 opposite annular edge 17. Lever 23 is pivotable about a fixed spindle or pin 25 and has a roller-type auxiliary cam follower 26 rotatably disposed at the other end opposite roller 22. Cam follower 26 makes rolling contact with the peripherally formed cam surface of a disc-type auxiliary cam or eccentric 27 which is carried by a shaft 28 for rotation therewith about a fixed axis. Thus, by angularly positioning the auxiliary cam 27 in a preselected position, lever 23 is accordingly rotated about pin 25, and roller 22, hearing against surface 24 of support member 8, exerts a neutralizing effect on the biasing action of spring 1 l to a degree corresponding to the preselected position of said auxiliary cam and, therefore, the rotated position of lever 23 about pin 25. The axial position of support member 8 on shaft 4 is accordingly established.

The main cam 21 is provided for imparting motion to an operating mechanism such as a lever system, for example, by making rolling contact with a main cam follower 29 rotatably carried at one end of a take-off lever 30 of said lever system, the other end of said take-off lever being fixed to one end of a shaft 31 for effecting rotation thereof about a fixed axis, said take-off lever being disposed perpendicularly to the axis of said shaft. The other end of shaft 31 has one end of a perpendicularly disposed operating lever 32 fixed thereto for rotation therewith, the other end of said operating lever having affixed thereto means such as a plunger 33 adapted for engaging an operating element (not shown) of a control device (not shown), such as the operating stem of a fluid pressure operable control valve, for example, for controlling the speed of the marine engine (not shown). By suitable means, such as biasing means (not shown) follower 29 is biased into and maintained in rolling contact with the contour surface of main cam 21 at all times.

In operation, assuming it is desired to have the vessel move in a forward direction, the operator first moves the handle 2 to position SF for starting the engine and thereafter gradually moves the handle into the F zone to a position therein corresponding to the rate of speed at which it is desired to have the vessel travel. Angular displacement of handle 2 acting through drive chain 6, as above noted, causes rotation of shaft 4 and support member 8 accordingly until the particular cam element of the cam elements 14, 14, 14", etc. corresponding to the position occupied by said handle comes into contact with follower 29. Depending upon which cam element of the cam elements l4, 14', 14', etc. is in contact with follower 29, the speed control valve (not shown) is accordingly actuated through lever 30, shaft 31, lever 32, and plunger 33 to effect the desired speed ually adjustable, the cam action of the main cam 21 in its entirety may be finely adjusted by the auxiliary cam 27. Since lever 23 is pivotable about the fixed spindle 25, the force exerted by roller 22 on support member 8 in opposing relation to spring 11 and, therefore, the precise axial position of said support member (and thus the main cam 21) on shaft 4 is determined by the point of contact of the cam contour of auxiliary cam 27 with follower 26. Thus, if auxiliary cam 27 is rotated through shaft 28 until-a high point of its cam contour is in contact with follower 26, lever 23 and roller 22 will exert a greater force on support member 8 (than would be so if a lower point of said auxiliary cam were in contact with follower 26) so that main cam 21 with cam elements 14, 14, 14", etc. is correspondingly shifted axially on shaft 4 in a direction toward follower 29. In this axially shifted position, each of the cam elements 14, 14, 14", etc., when in contact with the follower 29, produce a greater efi'ect on the speed control valve through levers 30 and 32 than would be so if the support member 8 were shifted axially on shaft 4 in a direction away from follower 29 by rotating auxiliary cam 27 to a low point of contact with follower 26. Adjustment of auxiliary cam 27, therefore, provides for fine turning of the cam action of main cam 21.

Having now described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a lever system of the type for operating a control device, a cam mechanism comprising:

a. a rotatable shaft;

b. a main cam comprising:

i. a cylindrical cam support member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; and

ii. a cam surface having a contour selectively fortnable on said cylindrical cam support member adjacent one of the annular extremities thereof;

c. a plurality of cam elements individually axially adjustably secured in abutting side-by-side fashion one the outer cylindrical surface of said cam support member and projecting axially beyond said one of said annular extremities to form said cam surface according to a selected contour;

d. a main cam follower carried by said lever system in position for making contact with said cam surface;

e. manually operable means selectively operable to a plurality of positions for effecting rotation of said shaft and said main cam to a corresponding plurality of angular positions,

f. said main cam follower being operable, upon operation of said main cam to a selected position, for effecting movement of said lever system and consequent-operation of the control device to a degree commensurate with said selected position to which the main cam is operated;

and wherein the improvement comprises:

g. said cylindrical cam support member being axially positionally adjustable on said shaft for varying the position of said cam support member relative to said lever system and consequently the cooperative action between said main cam and said lever system.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main cam follower is maintained in constant contact with said cam surface and said combination is further characterized by:

a. biasing means for axially biasing said cam support member in one direction away from said lever system toward a first limiting position; and

b. auxiliary means for effecting axial movement of said cam support member in an opposite direction in opposition to said biasing means to a selected one of a plurality of positions between said first limiting position and a second limiting position toward said lever system.

3. The combination, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary means comprises:

a. a lever member pivotable about a fixed point intermediate the ends thereof with one end of said lever member bearing against the other of said annular extremities of said cylindrical cam support member for exerting an axial force on the cam support member, according to the amount of rotation of said lever member about said fixed point, for effecting a corresponding degree of said axial movement of said cam support member in said opposite direction.

4. The combination, as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by:

a. an auxiliary cam follower mounted on the end opposite said one end of said lever member; and

b. an auxiliary cam operatively contacting said auxiliary cam follower and operable for effecting said rotation of the lever member about said fixed point.

5. Speed control apparatus for operating a speed control device of a marine engine, said apparatus comprisa. an operators control handle rotatable in opposite directions out of a neutral position to a plurality of forward and reverse positions for effecting speed control of the engine according to the amount of rotation of said handle;

b. a rotatable shaft;

c. drive means interconnecting said operators handle with said shaft for effecting rotation of the shaft according to the rotation of the handle;

d. a cylindrical cam member carried on said shaft for rotation therewith and having formed at one end thereof an axially disposed cam surface;

. a plurality of cam elements individually axially adjustably arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical cam member adjacent one axial extremity thereof in abutting side-by-side fashion and projecting axially beyond said axial extremity to form said cam surface of variable preselected contour; and

f. operating means rotatable about a fixed axis for effecting operation of the speed control device according to the extent of rotation of said operating means, said operating means including a cam follower in position for contacting said cam surface and effecting rotating motion of said operating means to a degree commensurate with the degree of rotation of said cam member;

and wherein the improvement-comprises:

g. said cam member being slidably adjustable on said shaft for varying the axial position thereof relative to said operating means and consequently the degree of relative motion imparted to the operating means through the cam follower upon rotation of said cam member.

6. Speed control apparatus, as set forth in claim 5,

wherein said drive means comprises:

a. a first sprocket gear coaxially mounted on said operators control handle for rotation therewith;

b. a second sprocket gear concentrically secured to said shaft; and

c. a sprocket drive chain drivingly connecting said first and second sprocket gears.

7. Speed control apparatus, as set forth in claim 5,

further characterized by:

a. biasing means for axially biasing said cam member in one direction on said shaft; and

b. auxiliary cam means for effecting axial movement of said cam member on said shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction in opposition to said biasing means. 

1. In combination with a lever system of the type for operating a control device, a cam mechanism comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a main cam comprising: i. a cylindrical cam support member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; and ii. a cam surface having a contour selectively formable on said cylindrical cam support member adjacent one of the annular extremities thereof; c. a plurality of cam elements individually axially adjustably secured in abutting side-by-side fashion on the outer cylindrical surface of said cam support member and projecting axially beyond said one of said annular extremities to form said cam surface according to a selected contour; d. a main cam follower carried by said lever system in position for making contact with said cam surface; e. manually operable means selectively operable to a plurality of positions for effecting rotation of said shaft and said main cam to a corresponding plurality of angular positions, f. said main cam follower being operable, upon operation of said main cam to a selected position, for effecting movement of said lever system and consequent operation of the control device to a degree commensurate with said selected position to which the main cam is operated; and wherein the improvement comprises: g. said cylindrical cam support member being axially positionally adjustable on said shaft for varying the position of said cam support member relative to said lever system and consequently the cooperative action between said main cam and said lever system.
 2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main cam follower is maintained in constant contact with said cam surface and said combination is further characterized by: a. biasing means for axially biasing said cam support member in one direction away from said lever system toward a first limiting position; and b. auxiliary means for effecting axial movement of said cam support member in an opposite direction in opposition to said biasing means to a selected one of a plurality of positions between said first limiting position and a second limiting position toward said lever system.
 3. The combination, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary means comprises: a. a lever member pivotable about a fixed point intermediate the ends thereof with one end of said lever member bearing against the other of said annular extremities of said cylindrical cam support member for exerting an axial force on the cam support member, according to the amount of rotation of said lever member about said fixed point, for effecting a corresponding degree of said axial movement of said cam support member in said opposite direction.
 4. The combination, as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by: a. an auxiliary cam follower mounted on the end opposite said one end of said lever member; and b. an auxiliary cam operatively contacting said auxiliary cam follower and operable for effecting said rotation of the lever member about said fixed point.
 5. Speed control apparatus for operating a speed control device of a marine engine, said apparatus comprising: a. an operator''s control handle rotatable in opposite directions out of a neutral position to a plurality of forward and reverse positions for effecting speed control of the engine according to the amount of rotation of said handle; b. a rotatable shaft; c. drive means interconnecting said operator''s handle with said shaft for effecting rotation of the shaft according to the rotation of the handle; d. a cylindrical cam member carried on said shaft for rotation therewith and having formed at one end thereof an axially disposed cam surface; e. a plurality of cam elements individually axially adjustably arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical cam member adjacent one axial extremity thereof in abutting side-by-side fashion and projecting axially beyond said axial extremity to form said cam surface of variable preselected contour; and f. operating means rotatable about a fixed axis for effecting operation of the speed control device according to the extent of rotation of said operating means, said operating means including a cam follower in position for contacting said cam surface and effecting rotating motion of said operating means to a degree commensurate with the degree of rotation of said cam member; and wherein the improvement comprises: g. said cam member being slidably adjustable on said shaft for varying the axial position thereof relative to said operating means and consequently the degree of relative motion imparted to the operating means through the cam follower upon rotation of said cam member.
 6. Speed control apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive means comprises: a. a first sprocket gear coaxially mounted on said operator''s control handle for rotation therewith; b. a second sprocket gear concentrically secured to said shaft; and c. a sprocket drive chain drivingly connecting said first and second sprocket gears.
 7. Speed control apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, further characterized by: a. biasing means for axially biasing said cam member in one direction on said shaft; and b. auxiliary cam means for effecting axial movement of said cam member on said shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction in opposition to said biasing means. 